Articulated frame



Jan. 9, 19 45.

L. TARLITZ ARTICULATE'D FRAME Filed Oct. 15, 1941 INVENTOR. L E o Tn R L T2 Patented Jan. 9, 1945 a p I 2367.071 v :ARTIOULATEDERAME I IieoTarlitz;Brooklymfleights,Ohio 1 cdpplication October as, 19A1,-.S1erial:No. grams 3 Claims. (01. 40- 1524) This invention relates -to -a connector 'for memhers such'as' frames for pi-c-turaes, mirrors cto serving photographs and other pictures are com morily-made from --sheetmetal of channel-shaped cross section so as to surround the-picture and suitable backing 1 and display -glass'.'- therefor on three sides, the remain-irrg side of the frame "being open in ord-er to slidably receive the picture and the rest. The/open' side is later closed by a filler piece. When 'two or' inore such frames arehing'ed to each other-edge to edgefithey can i be stood upright-safely without any special :prop

or other --support. -When sold =as'corrnected sets vof"two o-r ir-1ore-such frames the same are permanently hinged together. I have found that without having to change the construction of ments :shown in Fig. .12.. Beyond the portions 2 the frames in any way and without subjecting any part thereof to damage, the frames may be connected in pairs or in a series by means requiring no permanent fastening devices and no tools, other than the hands, to enable connec tion and disconnection as desired.

The above indicates the principal objects 0 the invention. A further object is to provide an improvement in articulated frames for uses such as outlined above. Other objects will become apparent from the following description of the preferred form of the invention, as shown in the drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view showing the backs of two frames with two of the improved connectors holding the frames together; Fig. 2 is a cross sectional detail view of adjacent edge portions of the two frames connected in accordance here with; Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional sembled unit (e. g. frame B, picture 0, filler D and display glass E) includes two pivotally connected hinge plates or straps l with portions 2, adjacent the hinge pin 3, lying parallel to each other in the relative position of the hinge elethei hinge plates extend "in -'opposite directions :as

at-I4 to overlap and'ibear againstJt-hi'erflanges-A portions 4, hooks with open sides or hights .ex-.

tending-itoward each other for interlockmg engagementnvith thexfree edge portions. ofitherear frame flanges "To :a'ssemblet the hinge -units onto :the frames :the hook :1SpacBs :or -=hights are simply aligned withthe Flower free end portions of the Lira-me -Ichannel flanges .-.as indicated :by

4, -and:the hooks :rthe'n slid upwardly therea l'ong to thei desirred positions. Thehinge plate portions .12, by iabutment wvithzzthe webs of :the frame schannels gprevent zthe hooks Lfrorn Ibecom'in-g detached 'from the channel :flanges A.

It, is desirable to provide means for preventing the hinge units from becoming accidentally displaced along the frame flanges A, as by gravity force or careless handling. Therefore the hooks are preferably made so as to provide a restriction narrower than the thickness of the frame flange A at least at some point along each hook in a vertical direction. Thus the hooks have to be sprung apart slightly during assembling of the hinge unit onto the respective frames. Fig. 4 shows the vertically central portion 6 of one of the hoolr portions 5 relatively indented toward the flange portion 4 for the above mentioned purpose. At one or both edges (vertically) the flanges 5 are flared outwardly providing a frame I flange receiving throat as at 1 so'that the frame flange A may be readily received into the hooks without having to spread the portions 4 and 5 flanges in a vertical direction. In that event the flange and hook portions 4 and 5 could initially engage the flanges A quite loosely for their entire vertical extent, thus facilitating the operation of attaching the hinge units to the frames. In that event the forming operations necessary to provide the flared flange receiving throat (as. at 1) and flange gripping restriction (as-at 6) could be dispensed with.

After the frames are connected by application of the hinge units thereto, as suggested in Fig. 1,

The hinge units can be made from any mate-o rial having the necessary strengthmetal being preferred.

Any number of frames may be attached together edge-to-edge in the manner described above. When a pair of frames are so connected they can be folded together face to face for protection of the display glass, the same as can usually be done with hinge-connected picture frames.

In case it is desired to have any two framed pictures arranged to be displayed at diverging angles, then the portions 4, 5 of the hinge units can be applied to the front instead of to the rear frame flanges; in other words the hooks 5 lie between the front flanges and the display glass.

The form of slidably interlocking detachable connection between the frame members would require modification in order to adapt it for other styles of frames than that illustrated. The illustration, as stated above, is simply the preferred arrangement.

I claim:

1. In the combination comprising two. frames for pictures or the like adapted to be stood on a horizontal surface, said frames having oppositely directed flanges forming, with adjacent frame elements, channels which are open at one end of each frame, and hinge means comprising pairs of permanently articulated hinge elements for connecting the frames substantially in edgeto-edge relationship for mutual support on such surface; hook means on respective elements of said pairs of hinge elements engaging respective flanges at the open channel ends for demountably associating the hinge means with respective frames in a manner requiring no tools except the hands to connect and disconnect the hinge means and frames.

2. In the combination comprising two frames for pictures or the like substantially in edge-toedge relationship, said frames having oppositely directed flanges each forming, with adjacent frame elements, a channel open at one end for receiving the picture or the like, and hinge means comprising a pair of mutually pivoted permanently articulated hinge elements for connecting the frames so that the latter can be swung into angular relationship for mutual support on a horizontal surface; hooks on the respective hinge elements and with flange receiving openings directed toward each other in one swung position of said elements whereby slidably' to engage respective said flanges of the frames at the open ends of the channels thereof in a vertical direction in a manner demountably to interlock the hinge elements with the frames.

3. In combination with two frames for pictures or the like having flanges the principal planes of which lie substantially parallel to the principal planes of respective frames and extend inwardly from the adjacent edges of the frames, a connecting hinge device having permanently articulated hinge plates extending between the frames and closely adjacent respective frames, said plates having flange portions extending across respective frame flanges and with open hook or bight portions extending toward each other in hooked relationship to the frame flanges thereby to interlock the frames together through the. intermediary of the hinge device.

. LEO TARLITZ. 

